Give Me Peanut Butter....

There are three, maybe four, staples.  Chocolate and caffeine in most of its forms are two.  Peanut butter is the third.

I rarely eat peanuts.  They stick in between my teeth.  They crumble and make me cough.  When I buy mixed nuts, I buy the deluxe ones--no peanuts.

Peanut butter is a different matter.  I love peanut butter.  I can--and do--eat it right from the jar.  I order peanut butter and marshmallow sundaes when I can find them.  I have a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast and one for a bedtime snack.  No jelly unless I have apricot or peach  preserves.  Peanut butter brownies, peanut butter pie, peanut butter fudge...oh, my.   Peanut butter makes rice cakes palatable.  It is delicious in a grilled sandwich.  It vastly improves Rice Krispies bar cookies.  One can add sweet pickles, bananas, marshmallow fluff, sliced Granny Smiths  or honey.  Or chocolate, of course.  Did you really think I would leave out chocolate??

Dunk peanut butter toast in hot cocoa or coffee.  Seventh heaven.  Wash it down with fresh ice cold milk.  Dip celery or pretzels in it.  Delicious.

Peanut butter is chock-full of B vitamins and protein.  It's actually good for you!  It makes children smile and old folks reminisce.  It is the finest of comfort foods.  It must be the feel of the fat on one's tongue.

Do NOT adulterate my peanut butter.  Do NOT make it low fat, no sugar, calcium added.  Give me organic only if you will do the daily stirring.  I'll take Peter Pan, Jif or Skippy.  Don't slip a generic brand in there.  I will eat crunchy.  I prefer creamy.  I want the bread lightly buttered, then a thick layer of the satiny stuff ....drooling now.

Why the peanut butter praises?   Because peanut butter is villainized.  We are led to believe it is a fat-laden, sodium-laced kids' food.   The truth is, it's a lot healthier than that bologna sandwich you just scarfed.  It's cheap, convenient and tastes good.

I nearly panicked today when I scraped the last drop with my trusty rubber spatula.  I rummaged through every cupboard, every kitchen drawer.  At last I found a jar behind the balsamic vinegar.  It will have to last three days, until payday.  A very close call.

I eat healthy food for the most part.  Lately I have been craving something, I am not sure what. I can either sample everything that is available, or I can wait for the peanut butter and saltines.  I think I will wait.  Peanut butter does not leave me guilt-ridden nor still hungry.   All I am sure of is that peanut butter, chocolate or caffeine is my best friend whether I am dissatisfied with dinner or life in general.

Didn't Patrick Henry say, "Give me peanut butter, or give me death"?  If he didn't, he should have.